The B&W background photo

[YesterdayOnceMore]

Interestingly, the two piece dress (don't know how to properly refer to it) with the (what looks like) diamond patterned blouse and the white boots is the same outfit Karen was wearing in the "Family Christmas Card" from 1973. When I have time, I'll load that into this thread. A beautiful green dress if I recall correctly.

Thanks for posting this photo, Rick. It's not really familiar to me - though I may have seen it at some point before. Do you know where it was taken? I think it's pretty interesting that Karen's outfit stood out to me, but I so vividly recall getting that Christmas Card in the mail, that I don't think I could ever forget what she was wearing. I thought it was very cool when it came in the mail.

[Rick Henry]

yesterdayoncemore said:

Interestingly, the two piece dress (don't know how to properly refer to it) with the (what looks like) diamond patterned blouse and the white boots is the same outfit Karen was wearing in the "Family Christmas Card" from 1973. When I have time, I'll load that into this thread. A beautiful green dress if I recall correctly.

Thanks for posting this photo, Rick. It's not really familiar to me - though I may have seen it at some point before. Do you know where it was taken? I think it's pretty interesting that Karen's outfit stood out to me, but I so vividly recall getting that Christmas Card in the mail, that I don't think I could ever forget what she was wearing. I thought it was very cool when it came in the mail.

Thanks Tim... I also like this photo... I think it's a great pic in which both Karen and Richard look quite dashing. I really like the coat Richard is wearing.

I believe the dress you're talking about is called a skirt.

I don't know much about the pic... but would venture to say it was probably taken somewhere in L.A. near the A&M studio. It was taken in mid to late 1972.

[YesterdayOnceMore]

Matching Vest and Skirt, shall we say? The vest and the skirt are of the same color and material....so I thought it was called a 2-piece something or another. Thanks for the info, Rick. Good to know.

[Rick Henry]

yesterdayoncemore said:

Matching Vest and Skirt, shall we say? The vest and the skirt are of the same color and material....so I thought it was called a 2-piece something or another. Thanks for the info, Rick. Good to know.

No problem, Tim, glad you like the picture.

[YesterdayOnceMore]

If I did this right, the photo is below that I mentioned.....see if you don't recognize not only the outfit, but the hairstyle on Karen, as well.....




This photo was sent in 1972 (rather than '73 as I think I mentioned before). It was a fan club item. I loved this photo, and thought Karen looked quite Smart. The red velvet coat that Richard is wearing in this photo is what he wore on stage the night I saw them in Springfield in 1973. Only difference was, his left wrist was in a white cast from a motorcycle accident in '73 at the show. Anyway, yes, I do like this background pic...thanks again, Rick.

[wisejester7]

K and R sure look alike in the background photo. Both look fantastic.

[Rick Henry]

Karen's boots are "groovy" with the lace in front... my mom had a pair similar to them in 1974.

[YesterdayOnceMore]

While attempting to find the Christmas photo, and looking at this background photo, it came to me that it was around this time that I very first heard "rumors" that Karen was trying to "hide" something by the way she dressed. No one called it anorexia for sure - and I don't honestly recall if it was rumored that she was basically trying to hide her figure in general, or just her arms or legs....you know how rumors go...(and this was way over 30 years ago, so I'm frankly surprised I remember anything about it at all, much less details! )

Anyway, I do recall that something was written, or I heard something from a talk show or something about why Karen never wore anything but long skirts, pants, and long sleeves when she took photos (which of course we know, now, isn't the truth, but hey, a sheltered kid from Springfield MO only had rumors to go by). I recall, then, being quite "surprised" when I got this photo to see that Karen had on a short skirt, as I thought her legs were quite attractive, so I'm sure I dispelled any rumors I held on to about her weight at that point. Hmmm....interesting.

I just wondered if you all recalled hearing anything like that about Karen and the reason she dressed as she did.....??

[Rick Henry]

yesterdayoncemore said:

While attempting to find the Christmas photo, and looking at this background photo, it came to me that it was around this time that I very first heard "rumors" that Karen was trying to "hide" something by the way she dressed. No one called it anorexia for sure - and I don't honestly recall if it was rumored that she was basically trying to hide her figure in general, or just her arms or legs....you know how rumors go...(and this was way over 30 years ago, so I'm frankly surprised I remember anything about it at all, much less details! )

Anyway, I do recall that something was written, or I heard something from a talk show or something about why Karen never wore anything but long skirts, pants, and long sleeves when she took photos (which of course we know, now, isn't the truth, but hey, a sheltered kid from Springfield MO only had rumors to go by). I recall, then, being quite "surprised" when I got this photo to see that Karen had on a short skirt, as I thought her legs were quite attractive, so I'm sure I dispelled any rumors I held on to about her weight at that point. Hmmm....interesting.

I just wondered if you all recalled hearing anything like that about Karen and the reason she dressed as she did.....??

Tim... Maybe I can shed some light on this for you.

First... 1972 was far too early for people to be talking about Karen's health. At that point in time Karen was at a healthy normal weight. It was in 1975 when rumors (sadly) started going around about Karen's health.

I do recall reading that Karen wore certain types of dresses and skirts in the early years to accommodate her when she played the drums.

As for long sleeves I think it was just her style... I never heard anything about Karen wearing long sleeves until later years around 76-77.

[wisejester7]

I pretty much remember it the way Rick does.

Tim, you might be remembering the rumors of Karen's 'dress code' in relation to the bad press she got about being "chubby". Karen's reaction was predictable, but she took things to the extreme. That reaction level might stem from her being a perfectionist.

I do think Karen looks very pretty and stylish in her Christmas photo (and the background photo).

[YesterdayOnceMore]

Undoubtedly, you both are probably correct about this - as I mentioned, I'm not sure what it was I heard - could very well have been about the chubby comments and I'm sure the "sweet and innocent" bit had something to do with it..... and yes Rick, I'm sure part of what I remember hearing about how Karen dressed was because she was a drummer, and certainly would have needed to wear something accommodating...so I imagine I was getting sort of a mixed bag of "hearsay" from various places. I don't suppose it's really all that odd that there were rumors about these two as they began reaching celebrity status anyway, eh?

Thanks, you two, for your input. Appreciate cha!

[Rick Henry]

The comments on Karen's clothing for drumming purposes has been mentioned in a few places... I'll dig up my sources to share with all.

WJ7... You mentioned the background in the pic... catch that 70's looking sofa... my family had one very similar. Same with the drapes and the entire decor... looks much like my families home in the early 70's.

Tim... you mention the "sweet and innocent" thing also being a factor... which is true. Although, I don't think considered herself to be all that sweet and innocent... that was all part of that almost impossible to live up to image that A&M felt Karen and Richard should maintain. A lot of what Karen wore in photo shoots had to have been approved by the A&M Marketing team. Notice how we never saw any pictures of Karen in a bikini in the 70's (or pictures that showed her stomach or upper legs, etc)... yet they do exist... and I've posted several of those pics on this forum and other sites I've hosted.

Here's a different view of the Christmas Card picture...





Here are a few other pics we never (or rarely) saw in the 70's...


Karen looks quite sophisticated here... makes me think of the song "This Masquerade"


Too bad this pic wasn't around in the 70's... I really like the playful side of Karen.


I love this photo of Karen... this is the image A&M should have let Karen have... it's natural and likable.

[Ming]

Never seen the card before. Love it.

Ming